HELP WITH Life.

It's January and high on many people's list of new year resolutions is reading through the Bible.

You don't have to be overwhelmed by Shakespearean-sounding language or names of people and places that are a struggle to pronounce. You don't even have to have a set amount of chapters to read everyday. You can do your own Bible study and get closer to God by following a few tips that will help you make the best of your study time.

Ready to grow? Let's go!

10 Bible study tips for beginners

1. MAKE A DATE WITH GOD.
No, you can't go on a date with God (that would be weird). But you can schedule your Bible study for the same time and place to create a God-habit. If you're just starting out, set aside 15 minutes and schedule an alarm on your phone. Once you get started, I bet it will be hard to stop at just 15 minutes.

2. BE READY!
Make it easy on yourself and keep all your Bible study stuff in the same place where you can see it. Here's a quick list of things you'll find useful when it's time to study:

A printed Bible or Bible app.

A notebook (preferably just for bible study or prayer).

A couple pens or pencils + a highlighter if you don't mind marking up your Bible.

Bonus: another translation of the Bible and a concordance (you can find one for free online or purchase one from a bookstore).

3. ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO GUIDE YOU AS YOU READ.
This is the simplest thing you can do to upgrade your Bible study game. Ask God for help. That's it! You don't even have to bow your head or close your eyes, although you can do those things if it makes you more comfortable. Jesus called the Holy Spirit our helper and our teacher and that means you have a 24x7x365 personal tutor that is ready and willing to break down anything you don't understand. Every lesson is custom-designed with you in mind and the Holy Spirit always speaks your language (even if you mostly use slang). Isn't that awesome?

4. LISTEN CAREFULLY.
While you are reading, you may hear or sense the Holy Spirit directing you to read a verse again or ask a question about what you just read. Go with the flow! Paying attention to the nudge you get from God while you're reading is always worth taking a detour or two.

A few years ago, I was having fun in my regular bible study time when I started sensing the Holy Spirit direct me to another book of the Bible. To be honest, I was deeply engaged in what I was reading and I told the Holy Spirit I would get to that book next time. A couple more days past and I kept having the same experience and kept telling God I would get to it later. About a week or so later, I bumped into a friend of mine that was in the middle of a depression. He had experienced some disappointments at work and with his family and was angry at God for not showing up like he thought that God should. He was even saying he didn't believe in God anymore, distanced himself from all his friends and seemed like he was considering suicide. I tried to talk to him but he wouldn't listen to anything I had to say.

Needless to say, I was pretty concerned for my friend and wanted to help him. I found someone to pray for him with me and kept seeking God about what I could do to help. And suddenly that nudge returned to read that same book of the Bible that the Holy Spirit had been trying to get me to read over a week ago. I gave up on resisting the urge and turned to the book of Ecclesiastes only to find that Solomon, the writer, sounded exactly like my friend. I realized that the Holy Spirit had been trying to warn me the whole time and prepare me for how to respond to my friend's situation. Immediately after reading the whole book, I knew exactly what to say to my friend and his whole attitude eventually changed. And all of that was a result of some good ol' Bible study. Listening for God while you're studying can open up opportunities to help yourself and others.

5. READ IT HOW IT WAS WRITTEN.
There are a slew of famous stories from the Bible that you may have come across on TV, portrayed in a movie, or heard from a minister at some point in time. It's great to see scenes from the Bible play out on a big screen or hear a great speaker make a good point from the text, but make sure that you read the Bible for yourself. It's easy to skim stories that we think we already know, but God has a way of showing you something new when you diligently read what the writer has actually written. For example, it's common to believe that three wise men visited Jesus and his parents while they were still in the manger right after his birth. You may have even seen this pictured on a Christmas greeting card or passed by a nativity scene on someone's front lawn (even a church). But if you read the book of Matthew as it is written, you'll find out that the writer never told how many Magi came to see Jesus and that they came to his house, not to the manger. In fact, the writer just names three types of gifts, not three people. Reading what has been written helps you to accurately understand the truth of God's Word, instead of just being "familiar" with it. God places a lot of importance on words, so we should do the same.

When you're ready to take your study to the next level, you can even use a Hebrew-Greek dictionary or concordance to see the original words used and the extra layers of meaning that comes with them. (A great free online resource for this is www.biblehub.com.) After all, you do know that the Bible wasn't originally written in English, right? Don't let your understanding get lost in translation.

6. READ OUT LOUD.
Reading out loud forces you to read more slowly and more thoughtfully. It also is a great way to practice memorizing scriptures. Remember having story time when you were a little kid? I loved story time and still like to listen to a good mystery audiobook today. Reading out loud can help you imagine the circumstances that the people you are reading about are experiencing and make the Bible more real to you.

Hearing yourself read the Word of God also helps to feed your faith. The book of Romans talks about how faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Reading the word out loud to yourself is a way of increasing your faith, because you will be hearing yourself say what God said.

7. ASK QUESTIONS.
God can handle your questions! God is not so sensitive or touchy that you can't ask God why or how something is true or supposed to work.
Sometimes you may read something that you have heard someone say in a different way or flat-out said the opposite of what God said. You may even run into scriptures that you have trouble believing, because of the way you were raised or how you were taught. The best person to ask about scriptures and what they mean is the One who inspired them in the first place. That's not to say that people are not a good resource, but always consider the perspective you get from the Holy Spirit to be the highest priority. God wants you to understand and asking good questions will help you do just that. (If you need a little help getting scriptural facts and perspective, try www.gotquestions.org)

8. TAKE NOTES.
You wouldn't go to class and not bring a paper & pencil, would you? I hope not. If you plan to do well in your classes, you have to put in the effort to understand the lessons. The same is true for studying the Bible. Taking notes helps you to remember the key points you run across in your study time. When you take notes, you are showing God that you are serious and intentional about getting to know God better. There may even be times that the Holy Spirit uses your study time to give you specific advice about a situation that you are going through or a warning about something that is coming up. Let me tell you, you don't want to be scrambling trying to find something to write with when God starts giving you the answers ahead of the test! Take notes so that you can review them later and remember what God told you. It's easy to get caught up in your day-to-day life at school or at work and sometimes forget what you've studied or what God said to you. But you'll never be at a loss if you keep a notebook nearby to jot down what God said.

9. MAKE IT PERSONAL.
Have you ever thought that some of the stories in the Bible sound like plots to a science-fiction movie? For example, have you ever heard of this guy named Jonah who refused to go where God sent him and was swallowed by a whale? What could you possibly gain by studying that story? Quite a bit! Stories like Jonah's may seem far fetched but there is always a way to apply the lessons from the lives of other believers into your life. In the case of Jonah, you can see that disobedience had unintended consequences for some people he met along the way. You can also take to heart the way God showed Jonah how merciful and caring He is toward humanity by sending Jonah to warn them of the consequences of their sin and give them a chance to change their ways. Put yourself in the shoes of some of the people you read about in the Bible and think about what you would do in their situation. Even though they lived thousands of years ago, the things they went through are part of the eternal human experience and will always have modern-day relevance to our lives. The next time you're reading through the Bible, don't get stuck on all the throwback scenarios. Instead, think about how you can apply what you're learning to your relationships with friends and family, the things you do at school or work, your hopes & dreams, or your own private, personal challenges. The Word of God is so cool, it can be old-school and new-school at the same time.

10. JUST DO IT.
Lots of preachers call the Bible a life manual and that's very true. The Bible is not just meant to be read, it is meant to be lived. There are principles, promises, and prophecies throughout all 66 books that are living, breathing words of God waiting for you to activate them in your life. As a matter of fact, I think the Holy Spirit's favorite way of teaching us is through experience---God wants us to get out there and use what we know. Living out what you've learned is the best way to show others the character of God. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3 that we are epistles, or messages, written by the spirit of the living God. Did you catch that? We don't just carry the message---we literally are messages from God! If you believe that to be true, then you have to ask yourself---what story does my life tell? When you interact with your neighbors or friends, teachers and parents, or even perfect strangers, does the experience you give people point back to the goodness of God? If it does, great! Keep up the good work! If you honestly think you could use some help, reading and doing the word of God is the solution.

There you have it! Spending time reading the Word of God is one of the best decisions you can make to change your life for the better. You can pick any book to start, but I think the books of Psalms, Proverbs, John and Acts are especially good for beginners. Be consistent with your studying and watch God make a difference in you and through you. Go Hard!

﻿Many teens in schools all across the country say that they don’t like school or they “hate” school. I used to be one of the kids who proclaimed often that I didn't like school, but still I did very good academically. However, you might be in that category of "I don't like school because I suck at it" which is a different path. If you are not doing well in school, you are most likely in search of some help. You might have even prayed and asked God for better grades in school. But getting better grades is more than just a "emergency 911” prayer in the midst of possibly failing a class, or worse, flunking the grade. There are 4 simple steps that I have found make getting good grades a reality. The good news is that God can definitely hep you! But first, let’s get a reality check…

WHY DO I EVEN HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL??
Most of you will be in school for the better part of 13 years, from age 5 to 18. It seems like school starts out as fun but then turns out to be a long, boring, chore, filled with tests on stuff you will never use. Even my 5 year old son Joshua is excited to start school and tells me almost daily that he’s “finished his homework”, granted his homework is coloring in his coloring book with his favorite crayons (most of which have been karate-chopped in half). But the point is that education was started for a reason. Did you know that the very word educate came from the latin word educae which means “to draw out”. Education was originally designed to work out the potential inside of you. If school seems challenging sometimes, well, that’s because it’s meant to be, in order for you to become better. The purpose is to draw out the gift, intelligence, and character inside of you that is necessary for you to succeed in life. When you have to do homework that you don’t want to do, you don’t care about, and you don’t even understand, there are a valuable traits being instilled inside of you: character, discipline, and perseverance - not to mention the actual learning that takes place. It takes courage to stay in school, and try your best.

HISTORY
Interesting info > Formal education in the USA was originated with the Bible as the primary textbook. Even the 1828 Webster’s dictionary was compiled by Noah Webster so the words in the Bible would hold the same meaning for everyone. Webster considered education useless without the Bible. So the school system started with the Bible as the foundation, making it all the more ironic that they have pushed it out of schools.

COMMON PITFALL
I've had many teens come to me for prayer so God could help them with their grades, under false assumptions…let me help you out here: God is NOT going to do all the work for you. Simple. Grades are not God’s responsibility, they are yours. God’s responsibility is to make good on all the 6,000+ promises that He has promised us in his Word. My motto: don’t pray and walk away. Pray with the intention of engaging the process.

NOW THEHELP!PART
Back to the topic at hand: HELP me with my grades! The Bible says that we have “the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16). We have a mental capacity that is far bigger than we can imagine, so don’t EVER say that you can’t or that you are not smart enough. That's a lie. You are smart enough because God made you, and you have his DNA! (Genesis 1:26) So after encouraging countless other youth with their grades, I have developed a 4 step approach. This is how you engage the process:

Ask for wisdom and guidance - God makes it clear in His Word what we should do in James 1:5“If any of you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you..” (NLT). He also says that we are not to trust in our own understanding, but that we should trust Him to direct our paths (Proverbs 3:5-6). It also says in John 14:26 that the Holy Spirit inside of us will teach us things and bring things to our remembrance. So say this out loud:Heavenly Father, I ask you today to give me wisdom and guidance on how to improve my grades. I need your help to do this. I can’t do it in my own power, but with your help I can do all things. Send along the right people to encourage me. I ask that you give me strength, courage, discipline, and a perfect strategy for me to get excellent grades. I thank you for it now Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

Make a plan to on how you will do better - Now this is when you make the plan real. Whatever God gives you in your heart, write it down. God might lead you to certain people, teachers or mentors to assist you in this process. God might lead you to an online resource. Get with your parents as they might have insight. Make a list of things that you can do to improve your grades. How to study, doing your homework, when to do it, time management, etc. Now put them in a top 10 priority list and start at #1. At the top of that list, write the grades that you want for each individual class. This will take some work, but it is well worth it! (James 2:26 > Faith + works = good grades)

Change your image and by faith decree that you are an excellent student - This can actually be one of the most crucial steps because this deals with a sensitive topic, your self-esteem AKA how you view yourself. I have found that one of the MOST common obstacles to getting good grades is that a teen simply doesn’t see themselves as “smart”. Let me ask a question: if Lebron James had a few bad basketball games, would you consider him a terrible basketball player? Of course NOT! That would be silly to base your opinion of him on a few bad nights. It’s silly of you to form an opinion of yourself based on a few bad grades. Receiving bad grades doesn’t mean your not intelligent, it just means you’re not trying yet. When you start viewing yourself as intelligent, regardless or what others say or think, you will believe it over time, even if it seems weird at first. To change your inner image starts with the Word of God: 1 Cor. 2:16“I have the mind of Christ..” - Phil. 4:13“I can do all things through Christ which strengths me.” - Ps. 139:14“I am fearfully and wonderfully made..” This list can go on and on. But it is important that you meditate these scriptures. It’s a good idea to memorize these scriptures and say them out loud daily. This might seem unnecessary. You might say “it doesn’t take all that”. But THIS has been the difference between success or failure for MANY teens academically.

Eliminate all distractions - It says in John 10:10 - "the thief comes to steal...” We have to refuse to let anything steal our time. Time is one of the most valuable assets that we have on this earth because we can’t get it back. When it’s gone, it gone. So use it wisely. In a lot of cases, grades are just a reflection of the time and energy that you put in to them. Quick Test: how long do you have to study to get an F? If you said no time at all then you passed the test! (Whoooo Hooo, a passing grade!) Aannnnd that’s my point. It takes time and attention to get good grades. Sometimes you will have to put your phone, text, IG or Kik conversation on pause so you can focus. Every now and then you will have to choose not to go hang out . You will have to turn the TV or music off. You might even have to stay after school (by choice??…ouch!), to get some extra help from a teacher. When friends say come hang out with us, remember this: You have to live with these grades, not them. These grades are on your transcript, not theirs. You want to be accepted into a good college, possibly not them.This is your future, not theirs, so don’t let their opinions hijack your progression towards your dream of success. (<< you should probably tweet, IG, or Fb post that last one though)

﻿﻿We at Go Hard believe that God has the best plan for your life! As you trust and believe on Him, you will accomplish your dream, no matter how big it is. The best is yet to come for you!
~ David​​